Shortly after he announced that Clippers owner Donald Sterling would be banned from the NBA for life and would be fined $2.5 million, commissioner Adam Silver published a letter to fans, thanking them for their understanding during the investigation and reminding them that Sterling’s comments “have no place in the NBA.” Below is the full letter:

Below are the full remarks by NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday in announcing his decision to hand to Donald Sterling a lifetime ban from the league, fine him $2.5 million and try to force him to sell the Clippers:

ADAM SILVER: Shortly after the release of an audio recording this past Saturday morning of a conversation that allegedly included Clippers owner Donald Sterling, the NBA commenced an investigation, which among other things, included an interview of Mr. Sterling.

That investigation is now complete. The central findings of the investigation are that the man whose voice is heard on the recording and on a second recording from the same conversation that was released on Sunday is Mr. Sterling and that the hateful opinions voiced by that man are those of Mr. Sterling.

The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful; that they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage.

Sentiments of this kind are contrary to the principles of inclusion and respect that form the foundation of our diverse, multicultural and multiethnic league. Read more…

NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday announced a lifetime ban and a $2.5 million fine, the maximum allowed per the league’s constitution, of Clippers owner Donald Sterling after the league found that the racist comments on a recording belonged to him.

Silver said that he was “personally outraged” by the comments that he “fully expects to get the support he needs from owners” to force a sale of the Clippers.

Following his announcement, Silver released a statement reiterating that “Mr. Sterling may not attend any NBA games or practices, be present at any Clippers office or facility, or participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team. He will also be barred from attending NBA Board of Governors meetings and participating in any other league activity.” Read more…

The NBA and commissioner Adam Silver have banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life, fined him $2.5 million and will attempt to force the sale of the team after Sterling made racist remarks in secretly recorded audio.

Silver confirmed that the NBA’s own investigation had found the voice in the audio recordings, first reported by the gossip website TMZ, to be that of Sterling.

To force the sale of the team, three-fourths of the NBA’s owners would have to vote in favor.

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.